MHC 52 Heron
"First in the Hunt"
USS Heron (MHC 52) was commissioned during an August 6, 1994 ceremony at the Port of Savannah, GA.
Heron was the second Osprey class ship scheduled to be commissioned from a total of 12 authorized by Congress. Ships of this class are the world's largest mine hunters to be constructed entirely of fiberglass and are capable of performing reconnaissance, classification, and neutralization of moored and bottom mines in harbors and coastal waterways. Heron is armed with two .50 caliber machine guns, a high definition, variable depth sonar, and a remotely operated robotic submarine used to neutralize mines.
USS Heron is named after a wading bird and commemorates the service of two previous minecraft of the same name.
Previous Namesakes
The first Heron (AM 10) (1918-1946) took part in the sweeping of the North Sea mine barrage in 1919. Reclassified as a small seaplane tender (AVP 2) in 1936, the ship earned four battle stars for service during World War II.
The second Heron (AMS 18) (1947-1967) earned eight battle stars for service during the Korean conflict.
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